AFC Team Needs (South)

South

Houston Texans
Wide Receiver
For the longest time it's Andre Johnson and that's about it for the Texans receiving core.  Houston  has never really put much effort into bringing in another option, but with the team a contender for the Super Bowl and Johnson starting to decline, the time may be now.  Luckily for them there is plenty of talent that will be available to them at the end of the first round.  Tavon Austin would give them a spark on offense, while Keenan Allen would give them a future number one.

Inside Linebacker
The play of Brian Cushing really masked the lack of a solid second inside linebacker.  When he got hurt they really got exposed.  Bradie James played alright, but he isn't a long term answer.  If the Texans decide to use their first round pick they could land Kevin Minter.  However in the second round they could have a chance at landing Manti Te'o to fill the role.

Safety
Losing Glover Quinn is a bigger loss than many people think.  The Texans loved their safety combo of Quinn and Daniel Manning because both were former cornerbacks.  Having safeties be able to match up in man to man coverage allowed Wade Phillips to dial up extra blitzes.  They really want Ed Reed, but if he doesn't sign they'll have to spend an early pick on somebody.

Rush Linebacker
What was once a huge strength is now an area that needs to be replenished.  A couple of years ago the Texans had Mario Williams, Brooks Reed, and Connor Barwin putting pressure on quarterbacks.  Williams and Barwin have both left and that only leaves Reed and second year Whitney Mercilus.  Finding that third rusher to rotate in with them will now be a priority.

Right Tackle
Being a zone blocking offensive line, the Texans don't normally like to spend high picks on offensive lineman. They rather find gems that are perfect for the scheme.  However Derek Newton struggled to replace Eric Winston and the offense lost a step.  They could easily resign Winston who was cut by the Chiefs, but if they can't, Brennan Williams in the third round would be a good option.

Indianapolis Colts
Nose Tackle
Since transitioning to the 3-4 the Colts have done so without many of the defensive line pieces they need.  The most important piece is having that body eating nose tackle that can clog things up the middle.  They drafted Josh Chapman last year, but he is nothing more than a rotational player.  Adding somebody like John Jenkins in the first round could be an option or Jesse Williams could be their choice in the second round.

Cornerback
The way head coach Chuck Pagano wants to run his defense is to have corners that can lock up in man to man defense which then allows him to blitz from all angles.  Indianapolis traded for Vontae Davis who gives them one lock down, but they need that second guy.  Greg Tolar was brought in from Arizona, but the Colts could easily use their first round pick on Xavier Rhodes or Desmond Trufant if they are still there.  If gone they could target David Amerson in the second.

Guard
Despite the team making the playoffs and Andrew Luck having a great rookie year, that all masked the poor play of the offensive line.  They added Gosler Cherilus at right tackle and also brought in Donald Thomas at a guard spot.  But still need one more guard to really improve the line.  They'll miss out on the top guards in the first round but still have a shot in round two to get a quality player.  Somebody like Dallas Thomas who is a former left tackle would really fit their scheme well.

Wide Receiver
TY Hilton was a great draft pick last year and him Reggie Wayne gave Luck two targets on the outside to work with.  However they could really use one more receiver that would allow Hilton to stay in the slot where he'd be even more effective.  Donnie Avery did give them some help, but he is always injured.  A second day pick on somebody like Markus Wheaton or Quentin Patton would answer their need.

Rush Linebacker
Another position that the Colts really didn't have when they moved to the 3-4 was the rush linebacker.  Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathies were great 4-3 ends, but Freeney struggled in the transition.  Mathies has done well but they haven't had anybody opposite of him.  It is time to move on past former first round bust Jerry Hughes.

Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarterback
Blaine Gabbert should never have been taken #10 overall two years ago and the Jaguars have been paying for it ever since.  Gabbert isn't a starting quarterback and lost his job last year to Chad Henne.  Having the #2 pick is normally a good thing when you need a quarterback but this year there really isn't anybody worth the pick.  They could either take somebody in the second round like Tyler Wilson or give Henne a year and draft one next year.

Defensive End
It's a yearly tradition for the Jaguars to be needing somebody to put pressure on the quarterback.  They'll do something to try and fix it, but they never get the job done.  Could this be the year they finally do so?  Having the second overall pick will give them the opportunity to take somebody like Dion Jordan, Ezekial Ansah, or Jarvis Jones.

Cornerback
You know it's not good when your top returning cornerback is second year pro Mike Harris.  Now Harris showed a lot of promise last year, but they need help bad.  It's too early to take Demarcus Milliner with the second pick, but they'll have to double up and use their second or third round options on somebody.  Darius Slay would be a good option in the second round.

Right Tackle
A couple of years ago the Jaguars doubled up their first and second round picks on offensive tackles taking Eugene Monroe and Ebben Britton.  They thought they had the position set for years to come.  Monroe has not let them down, but Britton had to be moved inside and now is a free agent.  They could really use somebody.  Don't think they use the second pick on Eric Fisher, but they could use a second day pick on DJ Fluker or Menelik Watson.

Safety
Dwan Landry has been released after another poor season.  They'd love to add a strong safety to pair up next to Dwight Lowery who can make an impact in both the passing and run game.  It's a good thing that this is a deep safety class because they probably won't be able to address it till the second day.  TJ McDonald would be an excellent fit.

Tennessee Titans
Cornerback
Tennessee really struggled against he pass last year and a big part of that was the lack of depth at the cornerback position.  Alterraun Verner is a stud, but the could really use somebody opposite of him.  They'd love for Demarcus Milliner to fall to them at pick #10, but that is unlikely to happen.  It's probably too early for Xavier Rhodes or Desmond Trufant, so they'll have to use a day two pick.

Safety
Michael Griffin and Jordan Babineaux both struggled last year.  Babineaux is a free agent is won't be back.  The team had a chance to cut Griffin but decided to keep him on and give him one last shot.  The Titans did sign George Wilson who is underrated, but that doesn't solve the problem.  Picking at ten this could be the landing spot of Texas S Kenny Vacarro.  Especially if Milliner isn't there.

Guard
People often want to blame Chris Johnson for his poor season last year.  However his offensive line deserves a lot of the blame too.  The guard position was a big weakness last year and since the running game is their main offense, it's a must.  They fixed one hole by signing top guard Andy Levitre, but still will look to add somebody at right guard.  Larry Warford in the second round would be a great addition.

Defensive End
The need for a defensive end is no indication of Derek Morgan or Kameron Wimbley.  Both have played excellent for the Titans.  However their big need is added depth because after those two, there isn't anything.  Finding a third rusher could make those two even better because they can be fresh as the game and season wear on.  Damontre Moore could be an option atop round two.

Tight End
After losing Jared Cook to free agency, the Titans were quick to sign Delanie Walker.  Now Walker is vastly underrated.  However his best strength is in the running game.  What the Titans will miss is Cook's ability in the passing game.  Finding an athletic tight end to pair with Walker and give Jake Locker a safety value is a must.

Underrated Free Agent Moves

Going into this abbreviated free agency period we all heard about the big names like Nnamdi Asomugha, Sidney Rice, Logan Mankins, and Santonio Holmes but there are plenty of other free agents that have signed with new teams that are going to pay immediate dividends this upcoming season. Here is a look a ten moves that weren't talked about much, but will be crucial to that teams success.

1. Jonathan Joseph CB to the Houston Texans
It surprises me how little attention Jonathan Joseph got during this time period. Now he isn't on the same level as Nnamdi Asomugha but he is just a notch below. ESPN.com did a great job breaking down the numbers between Joseph and Asomugha and Joseph was actually on level with him. The problem was that Jospeh was targeted more frequently than Asomugh. The Texans with this signing solved a big issue they had last season. Glover Quinn and Kareem Jackson were torched last season and there was nobody else behind them. Jackson is going into his second season and should improve, while Quinn will likely move to FS which better suites his skills. A great pick up for the Texans which should allow them to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.


2. Steve Breaston WR to the Kansas City Chiefs
When you have Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin on your team you often times get overlooked. Now Breaston isn't a #1 type receiver but he does a great job stretching the field and making it easier for the #1 guy. Breaston is reuniting with Todd Haley who was the offensive coordinator a couple years back in Arizona and it won't take long for him to get adjusted. Breaston will fit in well with Dwayne Bowe and Jonathan Baldwin and give Matt Cassell three very good options. Lets just say touchdowns will be aplenty this season in Kansas City.


3. Robert Gallary G to the Seattle Seahawks
A lot of people think that Robert Gallary is a colossal bust. After being drafted #2 overall, Gallary struggled at left tackle. But being moved inside to guard Gallary has really come into his own and has performed at a Pro Bowl level. You still don't think of a guard as being #2 overall worthy, but he is a starter in the league and you can't say that about every top 10 pick. Gallary here follows former Raider head coach Tom Cable to Seattle (now the O-line coach) and will fill in at the left guard spot that hasn't been filled since Steve Hutchinson left years ago. Gallary fits great into the zone blocking scheme that the Seahawks run and help improve the group that Seattle has really tried to make a strength.


4. Darren Sproles RB to the New Orleans Saints
This signing really surprised me. With the Saints drafting Mark Ingram it looked like that move would force Reggie Bush out. The last thing I thought they would do would bring in another running back. This must mean that either Chris Ivroy or Pierre Thomas might be out as well. Sproles comes in and takes over Bush's role as the back that will catch passes out of the backfield and return kicks and punts. Sproles has regress the past two seasons but is still an upgrade over Bush.


5. Willis McGahee RB to the Denver Broncos
Now McGahee isn't the every down workhorse that he use to be. But John Fox really loves to run the ball and after DeAngelo Williams decided to return to Carolina, there wasn't many options left. Denver doesn't have many options at the position and somebody had to be brought in. Knowshon Moreno has the talent to be the feature back, but hasn't shown that he can stay healthy. McGahee gives the Broncos a tough runner who will go between the tackles and hopefully allow Moreno to fill a complementary role before eventually taking over the position.


6. Justin Durant LB to the Detroit Lions
One of the biggest weaknesses the Lions had this past season was their linebacking core. DeAndre Levy has emerged as a starter at either MLB or SLB. Other than Levy there wasn't much talent there. Durant has a lot of talent, but is often injured. If he can stay healthy he'll do a lot to improve the linebackers and help out what looks to be one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.


7. Stewart Bradley LB to the Arizona Cardinals
When healthy Stewart Bradley was a Pro Bowl Caliber middle linebacker a perfect fit for the Eagles attacking defense. However Bradley hasn't been healthy the past two years and the Eagles weren't willing to take the risk anymore. Now Bradley goes out to Arizona and should fit very well in the Cardinals 3-4 defense. Bradley is an excellent blitzer and does well in coverage too. If healthy he could help fill the shoes of Karlos Danby who left before last year. This is a nice low risk high reward possibility.


8. Dwan Landry S to the Jacksonville Jaguars
Dwan Landry is a very solid safety who was often overshadowed by the likes of Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, and Terrell Suggs. However Landry is a very good strong safety that help out the run and not be a liability in coverage. He helps out the Jaguars whose secondary is awful. Landry should step in immediately and help to improve a group that is void of a lot of talent.


9. Barry Coefield DT to the Washington Redskins
The plan was for Albert Haynesworth to be a force in the middle of the Redskins 3-4 defense. However Haynesworth wasn't too keen on being a NT in the 3-4 and his effort showed. Now that he is gone the Redskins needed a new person in the middle and went out on got Coefield who had been with the Giants. Coefield hasn't played in the 3-4 so it will be interested to see how he does. But the Redskins are getting a solid run stuffer to add that they haven't had the past two years.


10. Harvey Dahl G to the St. Louis Rams
Now that the Rams have their franchise quarterback its important to build around him. They have drafted their two bookend tackles and now they get some help on the interior. Dahl is a nasty guard who plays on edge. He'll be a huge help in the run game and give the rest of the offensive line some toughness that they could really use.